Have you heard? Lesser-known August treats

The Ottawa Folk Festival not only has great music, it has great sunsets over the Ottawa River!You may be familiar with the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival (on till August 7), or the Casino du Lac-Leamy‘s spectacular Sound of Light fireworks show (August 7-21, Saturdays and Wednesdays) — they are justifiably two of the best-known and best-loved events in August in Ottawa.

But there are plenty of other events this month that visitors might not be aware of. Read on!

Capital Hoedown: This is a brand new country music festival, to be held August 5, 6 and 7 at the Rideau Carleton Entertainment Centre. Headliners include Vince Gill, Dwight Yoakam and Alan Jackson. Yahoo!

Outdoor movies: For the next two Friday and Saturday nights (August 6-7, 13-14), you can catch movies in Dundonald Park on Somerset Street West downtown — bring your own lawn chairs and munchies! Pay-what-you-can.

Pipefest 2010: A collection of pipe bands, drummers and Highland Dancers will raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society on Parliament Hill on Saturday, August 7.

Theatre options: You have until August 14 to catch The Andrews Brothers at the Gladstone Theatre – a cross-dressing comedy set in the South Pacific during World War II. Or check out Summer Fling — a Theatrical Affair, a series of performances around Downtown Rideau until August 28.

Ottawa Folk Festival: This festival (August 13-15) has one of the best vibes of the year. A beautiful location on the Ottawa River definitely helps, but so do the friendly volunteers, the good food and the top-notch music, with The Acorn, Calexico, The Foggy Hogtown Boys, Jim Bryson and The Weakerthans Band, The Jim Cuddy Band and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott all set to perform.

Stinky Weekend: Believe it or not, there are two great garlic festivals over the weekend of August 14-15: one in Perth and one at the Carp Farmers’ Market.

Caribe-Expo: Check out the Caribbean flavours on the weekend of August 14-15 in downtown Ottawa.

Fortissimo: The Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band played Fortissimo a few years ago.I’m a sucker for military music and Fortissimo is the best. Pipes and drums, lots of marching and usually some fun team competitions (one year, each team built a bridge, dismantled a cannon, then transported it and rebuilt it on the other side to fire — the winners won by literally a split second — amazing!). Catch it — free — August 12-15 on Parliament Hill.

Phone: 1-888-OTTAWA-8 (1-888-688-2928) Hours: Monday-Saturday from 10:00-20:00 ET and Sunday from 12:00-16:00 ET Note: The toll free line is only available in North America and is serviced in English and French by Capital Tickets